Campo Vía pocket

Campo Vía pocket
Part of the Chaco War
Map of the battle, with a portrait of Colonel Estigarribia in the corner
Date November - December 1933 Location Gran Chaco Result Decisive Paraguayan victory
Belligerents
Bolivia	Paraguay
Commanders and leaders
Hans Kundt Carlos Banzer (Commander of the 9 Division) Gonzales Quint (Commander of the 4° División)	José Félix Estigarribia. Rafael Franco
Strength
9,000 troops	17,000 troops

The battle of the Campo Vía pocket was a decisive engagement of the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia which took place in December 1933. It was one of the most prominent battles of the Chaco War. Lt Col José Félix Estigarribia, with a massive force of several divisions of the Paraguayan Army, was able to surround two Bolivian divisions around the outpost of Alihuatá. The encircled troops were forced to capitulate due to lack of supplies on 11 December. Up to 2,000 Bolivian soldiers were killed and 7,000 made prisoner. Barely 900 Bolivian troops broke away. Subsequently, the Paraguayan troops expelled the Bolivian army from the eastern region of Chaco by the end of 1933, forcing the resignation of German General Hans Kundt to the Bolivian High Command.

Bibliography

• de Quesada, Alejandro (2011). The Chaco War 1932-35: South America’s greatest modern conflict. Osprey Publishing, ISBN 9781849084161
• Masamaclay, historia de la guerra del Chaco, Segunda edición

Coordinates: 23°15′39.54″S 59°56′20.66″W / 23.2609833°S 59.9390722°W / -23.2609833; -59.9390722